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Registered Member #311
Joined: Sun Mar 12 2006, 08:28PM
Location:
Posts: 253
Idly browsing Ebay I can't believe how cheap these are, e.g. Just under GBP600 (US$1K) delivered. This is so cheap I'm very tempted to buy myself a new toy - the only definite application I'd have is cutting solder paste stencils, but I'm sure I'd find other fun things to do with it.
So just how crappy or otherwise are these in practice..? Is laser tube life what they say? How good is the focus tracking across the bed? What's the spot size like? What's the motion control like - do curves come out OK? How well do they stay aligned? I've seen the mirror mounts on a more expensive one close-up, and even those were pretty crude, and I have no doubt initial alignment would be somewhat fiddly, but once set up, how good/bad are they? Not too bothered by poor extraction/cooling as these are easily fixed/replaced, as adding air assist.
I'd be interested in any comments from people who've used/owned one. Feedback seems good, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone selling a used one.
Registered Member #2814
Joined: Wed Apr 21 2010, 12:28PM
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 24
From what I've seen lurking on the DIY laser cutting list if you get a good one they're Ok but if you get a bad one...
It's a bit of a toy, an aquarium pump for the coolant, from the warnings on the control panel looks like there's no flow sensor and what possible benefit is there in the perspex cover being red? I want to be blinded by stuff being vapourised .
It'll probably be OK for workshop use especially with some tweaking, a lot easier than building one from scratch (that's been on my to-do list for at least a decade) and being used to working with lasers you'll be in a much better position when something needs fixing than the average buyer. Customs charges - the seller has offered to mark it as a gift but if they don't believe it that'll be another £80 or so if you're lucky. I'd be interested to know what the actual spot size is, there's a reason engravers usually use YAG and 1000dpi won't matter much if the spot is 1/100 in.
'we can provide the reasonable price since we have fight with the supplier'
Registered Member #1497
Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801
My friend has one of them, internal construction is... very sketchy.
The laser tube itself is powered off of a (likely underrated) 120->220 stepup converter liable to burst into flames if used for prolonged periods of time. [ ]
The laser bed is underwhelmingly small.
Oh, and for some obtuse reason, the laser is triggered by logic *low*. He found this out during his attempts to convert the control circuitry over to something more reliable and driven by EMC, neatly burning a hole in something because of the unexpected backwards logic.
Registered Member #2939
Joined: Fri Jun 25 2010, 04:25AM
Location:
Posts: 615
We have one at work. Took some mods to stop it skipping steps in one direction, and the software is difficult to use. "You gets what you pays for" applies.
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Cheap Chinese laser cutters - any experience?
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